Surgical instrument



my my 1935. H, HHLLEBRAND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec.

PatentedA July 16, 1935 l lSURGICAL `INS;frrooMErrr Hubert 'Hillebrand, Aachen, Germany Application December 14, 1933,Serial No.,702,401

, Y n Germany December 14, 1932 f 2 claims; gol. 12s-339) YThis invention relates to a'piercing andfligation instrument for use:` in surgical operations, and it has more particularly reference to instruments of `the kind in which the piercing hook hask a blunt point for avoiding bleedingsand is provided with a thread eye near its point. The

'instrument is 4essentially designed to be used for operations of special charaotersuch as resectionsl of the stomach and intestines and bronchocele operations.

With the known instruments of this kind, a separatelength'of threadmust be threaded into the eye for each ligation. Inthe above indicated' operations the tissue has usually to be pierced and tied from twenty'to fifty times in very rapid succession, and it will be understood that the assistant who has to thread the instruments and hand them to the surgeon is scarcely able to perform the necessary manipulations with the requisite quickness so that disturbances in the progress of the operation are almost unavoidable. Y It is one of the objects of the invention to overcome this drawback by providing the instrument with a thread spool from which the thread can be continuously supplied to the eye at the end of the piercing hook.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the piercing hook and the shank with grooves and ducts for properly guiding the thread from the spool to the eye and for preventing the thread from being accidentally withdrawn from the eye during the operations.

The invention further consists in mounting the thread in the form of a bobbin in an aseptic ampoule which is removably placed in a hollow handle detachably carried by the shank of the instrument.

I am aware that surgical needle holders with a thread spool and an aseptic thread guide are already known. But these known instruments are not like the present one, by means of which ,the surgeon pierces the flesh or tissue blunt for avoiding bleeding, but they are sewing or piercing hooks with a needle which has a stinging effect by its point and sometimes even a cutting effect by one of its sides, so that bleeding is unavoidable. One of these instruments has the needle clamped between two adjustable cheeks. The known instruments consist of ve or seven parts and are very complicated. Their needle has no thread guiding grooves and ducts but only an eye near the point. These known instruments areunsatisfactory in actual practice by reason-of their complicated constructionand the lack of' a properV thread guide.

The blunt ligation instrument according tothe invention fully answers all requirements for special operations, such as resections of the stomachv and intestines and bronchocele operations. It consists only of` two parts, is very simple to handle and allows the surgeon to work with it Without any disturbances.

The accompanyingdrawing illustrates, by wayl of example, an embodiment of the instrument.

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of the linstrument seen in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation seen in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an elevation seen in the direction of the arrow z, Fig. 2;

Fig. Y4 is a planvview of the instrument;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. l, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line -E of Fig. 3,

V and Fig. 7 is a section on the line -'l of Fig. 3.

The instrument comprises a handle a, a shank b and a piercing hook c. The shank b and the hook c are made of one piece. The hook c extends from the upper end of the shank b at a right angle thereto. It has a substantially semi-circular shape and a blunt point with an eye d.

The shank b has at its lower end an enlargement f with external screws threads with which are engaged corresponding internal threads in the upper end of a'sleeveg constituting the handle a. The hollow space of the handle g is designed to receive a thread supply spool h. The spool is in the form of a bobbi'n which is mounted in en ampoule i containing an aseptic liquid and removably placed in the hollow han-` dle g. Prior tothe insertion of the ampoule into the handle its tip is broken oiT to form an voutlet lc for the thread T. The handle g has in its lower end small holes Z which allow air to pass in and out of the handle, thus permitting an easy insertion and removal of the ampoules.

The shank 'enlargement f hasl a longitudinal passage m through which to pass the thread from the handle to the outside. The passage m merges into a thread guiding groove` n in the shank b extending 'longitudinally thereof. `A ring o encircling the lower end ofthe shank holds the thread in the groove n; At the upper end' of the shankb. where the hook c commences, a thread duct 'p extends from the front side of the shank tol the rear side of the hook.` ThisY v dispensed with.

duct p is continued on the rear side of the hook by a groove q, to which is connected a duct r extending to the front side of the hook and` merging there into a groove s which is again continued by a duct t leading to the rear side of the hook, where another groove u completes thev connection with the e'ye d. The grooves and ducts m n` 7o q r s t u guide and hold the thread on its path from the handle g to the eye d. The

thread T leaves the piercing hook c and more particularly its eye d at the iront side of the hook. The thread is guided and covered at and in the hook in such a manner that it cannot be seized at the vnong side and accidentally `withdrawn from the eye duringthe operation. Y

The instrument'is used as follows: Before an operation begins, an aseptic ampoule containing a thread spool is placed in the handle and the thread is passed through the successive,

grooves and ductsand threaded in the eye, as illustratedin the drawing, whereupon the instrument Vis ready for use. The portion of the'bodyY Y VHaving thus described my invention, what I Patent isz- 1. In a surgical needle, a shank, a curved blunt piercing hook at one end of the shank in a.

planeV perpendicular to the axis of the shank, a. hollow handle detachably connected to the opposite end of the shank and adapted to receive a thread bobbin, the shank being formed with a longitudinal externally opening thread guiding groove, the hook being formed with successive externally opening thread guiding grooves, means for: holding the thread in the grooves of the shank, and means for holding the thread inthe grooves of the hook; y

2. In a surgical needle, a shank, a curved blunt piercing hook at oneV end of the shank in a plane perpendicular tothe axis of the shank, and a hollow Vhandle connected to the opposite endof `the shank and adapted to encase a thread bobbin,the shank being formed with a externally opening thread guiding groove -extending throughout the length of the shank, the hook being formed with a plurality of externally opening thread guiding grooves arranged alternately on opposite sides and in succession to each other,

the hookv being further formed ,with threadY guiding ducts intermediate yand communicating with the ends of successive grooves, said-ducts establishing communication between-and holding the thread in the several grooves of the hook.

HUBERT HILLEBRAND. 

